"All propaganda must be so popular and on such an intellectual level, that even the most stupid of those toward whom it is directed will understand it... Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way around, to consider the most wretched sort of life as paradise."-Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf (1926)
"Not every item of news should be published. Rather must those who control news policies endeavor to make every item of news serve a certain purpose."-Joseph Goebbel The rise and power of the Nazi Party to many historians was greatly influenced by their use of propaganda. Upon his seizure of power in 1933, Hitler established the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda. Headed by the Minister of "Enlightenment", Joseph Goebbel, this bureau ensured the regulation and illumination of the Nazi message in the everyday life of the german people. From theater and the arts to educational materials and the radio, Hitler encouraged complete loyalty to his party's political agenda, as well as passive tolerance for all of his violent methods, such as the "Final Solution" and invasion of Russia.
Ideas-
Labor: Hitler placed great emphasis on the importance of labor and production in his regime. This idea became even more important as World War II began and the demand for supplies grew greater. The worse the Germans did in World War II, the more extreme the emphasis on labor and production became.
Nationalism: Another goal of Hitler was the unification of a German 'Reich'. In order to do this, the Nazi regime aimed to encourage a nationalist feeling throughout Germany.
Anti-semitism: Hitler and many Nazi officers harbored very racist views which were reflected in thier policies and use of propaganda. Propaganda efforts against the Jewish people ussually were meant to increase tensions between the German people and the German Jewish community by dehumanizing them. The Jews were classified as untermensch or subhuman and under the Aryan race. Ultimately, Hitler aimed his propaganda for his "Final Solution" and extermination of the Jewish race in his "Reich." Many were sent to concentration camps and experimented on like animals.
Other Prejudice: Inspired by the works of Nietzsche and Darwin, Hitler applied the idea of the ubermensch and racial superiority to condemn any Germans who were not perfect "Aryan" specimens. Along with homosexuals, foriegners, and the physically and mentally handicapped, Hitler also persecuted against Communists, political "criminals", socialists, and democrats. Many were sent to the various concentration camps that Hitler built around his "Reich".
Xenophobia: Anti-Bolshevik- Next to the Jewish community, Hitler promoted great anti-bolshevik feelings in the German people. This idea partly grew because of their communistic beliefs, that went completely agianst the tenets of the Nazi party, but also spread as Hitler planned to begin his invasion of the USSR. Hitler linked the USSR and communism with the international Jewish conspiracy, claiming that the Battle of Britain was won and the USSR ripe for the taking.
Eastern European Attitude- As the Germans began thier eastern invasion, they commited great atrocities, especially to the people of Poland. The Nazi party applied thier idea of the ubermensch to the eastern europeans and attempted to "germanize" thier conquered territories. Hitler ordered Poland, in particular, which was too patriotic, to be wiped out and "re-educated".
The Eternal Jew
Film- The Nazi Party communicated many of its anti-semetic, socialist, and nationalist ideals through films of the 40's and 50's.
The Eternal Jew (1940)- portrayed Jewish people as parasites in search of sex and money
The Triumph of the Will (1935)- glorified Hitler and the nationalist and socialist movements
Festival of Beauty (1938)- promoted national pride for the 1936 Berlin Olympic games
Educational Film (see below)
Many comedies were ordered to be made to give Germany "a lighter look.
Press- Regulation of the press, as well as censorship of "un-German" or negative ideas, helped promote nationalism and racist views among Germans.
Der Stürmer (The Attacker) was a weekly Nazi magazine edited by Julius Striecher that used simple language and cartoons to appeal to the common man. Although banned for a while in 1923, it returned in 1924 and started printing anti-semetic cartoons less than a month later. Through its use of common German and simple ideas, the magazine was active in spreading
"The Jews are our bad luck!"
Nazi political messages.
Julius Striecher often used nude women in his political cartoons to cultivate interest in his racist ideas.
Prisoners of concentration camps were forced to send letters to friends and family to convince them of thier safety and happiness at the camp.
Books- Censorship of books was also part of the Nazi pan to regulate opinion in society. In general, anything considered un-German and different than the views of the Nazi party was banned or put on "black lists."
In 1933, a list of books that should not be read by Germans was made by librarians and student unions across Germany.
On May 10, Germans across the country held nighttime parades and bonfires, chanting and raiding bookstores and libraries in search of books from the censorship list.
Books thrown into the bonfire included works by Jewish writers like Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud, as well as well known American writers, like Ernest Hemingway, who ideas were considered innapropriate.
Interestingly, the books of Hellen Keller, who overcame her deafness and blindness were banned, for they encouraged the idea of eqaulity with the disabled.
Education- One of the highest priorities of the Nazi party was the "education" of the young. Through educational videos, books, and organizations, Hitler attempted to secure the loyalty of the youth of Germany, as well as spread ideas to adults.
Concentration camp films were shown to ensure the Germans of the safety of its inhabitants.
Educational films warning little girls of rape by Jewish men were shown to little girls across the country.
Certain old textbooks were thrown away and replaced with new books that encourage love of the party, loyalty to Hitler, and anti-Semetism.
By 1937, 97% of all teachers and proffessors were part of a National Socialist Teacher's Union.
In schools, Hitler's birthday was celebrated, as well as his ascension to power.
The Hitler Jugend and the League of German girls were also created to encourage youth dedicati
Der Giftpilz
on to the Nazi party.
Der Giftpilz was a childrens book published in 1938 that at first innocently describes a boy and his mother enjoying the German pastime of picking wild mushrooms. However, the mother compares edible mushrooms and poisonous mushrooms to people and explains that the Jews are the most dangerous people. The books continues with comparisons of Jewish people and satan and thier extermination, as the quest of the Germans.
In 1937, the 'Eternal Jew' exhibition opened in Munich and tried to enlighten the public about the "Jewish-Bolshevik" conspiriracy. The Secret Police recorded that the exhibit renewed anti-semetic feeling and there was a increase in violence in Jewish communities.
Art- The Nazis posted various posters throughout the streets of Germany that relate ideas of nationalism, anti-semetism, and in general, the ideas and policies that Hitler wanted to promote. For instance, when he wanted to promote the Volkswagen or "the peoples car," he posted propaganda posters around Germany to promote it (see below). A great many portraits of Hitler were made in his reign of power, as well, and helped secure his cult of personality in his "Reich."
Winning Europe is your prosperity! (Anti-Bolshevik)
Long live Germany!
"Your KDF car." (Volkswagen)
Radio- To ensure that every German could hear Hitler give his speeches, Dr. Joseph Goebbel sold cheap radios that he called "The People's Reciever." Cafes and public businesses were ordered to play Hitler's speeches and loud speakers were put into the streets so all could hear thier "Fuhrer."
Rallies- Goebbel ordered the building of arenas to hold 400,000 people. One of the most famous arenas at Nuremburg held some of the most famous rallies in Germany. Goebbel claimed that these rallies would show Europe the might of the German people, as well as spur nationalistic pride in Germany.
"For luck for the rulers that men do not think!" -Adolf Hitler
"All propaganda must be so popular and on such an intellectual level, that even the most stupid of those toward whom it is directed will understand it... Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way around, to consider the most wretched sort of life as paradise."- Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf (1926)
"Not every item of news should be published. Rather must those who control news policies endeavor to make every item of news serve a certain purpose."- Joseph Goebbel
The rise and power of the Nazi Party to many historians was greatly influenced by their use of propaganda. Upon his seizure of power in 1933, Hitler established the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda. Headed by the Minister of "Enlightenment", Joseph Goebbel, this bureau ensured the regulation and illumination of the Nazi message in the everyday life of the german people. From theater and the arts to educational materials and the radio, Hitler encouraged complete loyalty to his party's political agenda, as well as passive tolerance for all of his violent methods, such as the "Final Solution" and invasion of Russia.
Ideas-
Labor: Hitler placed great emphasis on the importance of labor and production in his regime. This idea became even more important as World War II began and the demand for supplies grew greater. The worse the Germans did in World War II, the more extreme the emphasis on labor and production became.
Nationalism: Another goal of Hitler was the unification of a German 'Reich'. In order to do this, the Nazi regime aimed to encourage a nationalist feeling throughout Germany.
Anti-semitism: Hitler and many Nazi officers harbored very racist views which were reflected in thier policies and use of propaganda. Propaganda efforts against the Jewish people ussually were meant to increase tensions between the German people and the German Jewish community by dehumanizing them. The Jews were classified as untermensch or subhuman and under the Aryan race. Ultimately, Hitler aimed his propaganda for his "Final Solution" and extermination of the Jewish race in his "Reich." Many were sent to concentration camps and experimented on like animals.
Other Prejudice: Inspired by the works of Nietzsche and Darwin, Hitler applied the idea of the ubermensch and racial superiority to condemn any Germans who were not perfect "Aryan" specimens. Along with homosexuals, foriegners, and the physically and mentally handicapped, Hitler also persecuted against Communists, political "criminals", socialists, and democrats. Many were sent to the various concentration camps that Hitler built around his "Reich".
Xenophobia:
Anti-Bolshevik- Next to the Jewish community, Hitler promoted great anti-bolshevik feelings in the German people. This idea partly grew because of their communistic beliefs, that went completely agianst the tenets of the Nazi party, but also spread as Hitler planned to begin his invasion of the USSR. Hitler linked the USSR and communism with the international Jewish conspiracy, claiming that the Battle of Britain was won and the USSR ripe for the taking.
Eastern European Attitude- As the Germans began thier eastern invasion, they commited great atrocities, especially to the people of Poland. The Nazi party applied thier idea of the ubermensch to the eastern europeans and attempted to "germanize" thier conquered territories. Hitler ordered Poland, in particular, which was too patriotic, to be wiped out and "re-educated".
Film- The Nazi Party communicated many of its anti-semetic, socialist, and nationalist ideals through films of the 40's and 50's.
Press- Regulation of the press, as well as censorship of "un-German" or negative ideas, helped promote nationalism and racist views among Germans.
Books- Censorship of books was also part of the Nazi pan to regulate opinion in society. In general, anything considered un-German and different than the views of the Nazi party was banned or put on "black lists."
Education- One of the highest priorities of the Nazi party was the "education" of the young. Through educational videos, books, and organizations, Hitler attempted to secure the loyalty of the youth of Germany, as well as spread ideas to adults.
Art- The Nazis posted various posters throughout the streets of Germany that relate ideas of nationalism, anti-semetism, and in general, the ideas and policies that Hitler wanted to promote. For instance, when he wanted to promote the Volkswagen or "the peoples car," he posted propaganda posters around Germany to promote it (see below). A great many portraits of Hitler were made in his reign of power, as well, and helped secure his cult of personality in his "Reich."
Radio- To ensure that every German could hear Hitler give his speeches, Dr. Joseph Goebbel sold cheap radios that he called "The People's Reciever." Cafes and public businesses were ordered to play Hitler's speeches and loud speakers were put into the streets so all could hear thier "Fuhrer."
Rallies- Goebbel ordered the building of arenas to hold 400,000 people. One of the most famous arenas at Nuremburg held some of the most famous rallies in Germany. Goebbel claimed that these rallies would show Europe the might of the German people, as well as spur nationalistic pride in Germany.
"For luck for the rulers that men do not think!" -Adolf Hitler
Group 5
Bibliography:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/nazi_propaganda_gallery.shtml
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?ModuleId=10005202
http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/propag.htm>
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0111500/ww2/german/naziprop.htm
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/propaganda_in_nazi_germany.htm>
http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/holoprelude/nazprop.html
http://quotes.libertytree.ca/quotes_about/nazi
http://www.dac.neu.edu/holocaust/Hitlers_Plans.htm